National Geographic Adventure is doing a great job keeping us up to date on the Mekong Kayakers through their new Adventure Blog. The latest report from the river is that the team has crossed into Tibet, where they risked detainment, to continue their first descent of the region.
The Rivers in Demand Team had originally intended to paddle the Upper Salween River, making a first descent on that wild waterway. But recent unrest in Tibet has closed off the country to foreigners, so they had to quickly adjust their plans, electing to explore an undocumented region of the Mekong River instead. Tibet remains closed off, but a section of the Mekong the kayakers were exploring meandered into the tiny Himalayan country, allowing them to paddle through spectacular scenery along a 250 mile section of the river. Along the way they had to avoid a police checkpoint and drifted past a convoy of 30 army vehicles unnoticed.
The team is getting some amazing photos, as you can see from the article, and is capturing this unexplored section of the river for the first time on video as well. They hope to make a documentary on the area once they return, provided they don't end up in a Chinese prison, or have their film confiscated along the way. They set out to find an adventure on a far off river, and I think it's safe to say that they've gotten more then they bargained for.
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